A new study tries to explain the "Mandela Effect," why some people are mosquito magnets, and more.

Lex Ashcroft’s reads

4 emotional workouts to help you feel empowered and promote resilience. As some aspects of daily life are returning to semi-normal, an end to the mental health crisis spurned by the pandemic is nowhere in sight. With providers unable to keep up with the demand, many are seeking ideas for faster relief. Writing for the Washington Post, Julie Fraga breaks down the "emotional workout" that can help people take charge of their own mental health. The practice consists of techniques such as: scheduling "worry dates," using "affect labeling," and implementing grounding exercises.

Why are some people mosquito magnets and others unbothered? Summer is officially over, but outdoor gatherings are still in full swing in anticipation of more comfortable weather and fewer pests. Mosquitoes, the always uninvited guests, seem to be especially attracted to some people, while leaving others alone entirely. Why is that? Writing for The Conversation, Jonathan Day explains the factors that contribute to one being a "human mosquito magnet," including: a high metabolic rate, increased physical activity, natural body scent, consumption of alcohol, and the shade of clothing being worn.

Allie Rudin's reads

New study seeks to explain the 'Mandela Effect.' Cited by some as proof of alternate dimensions, the "Mandela Effect" refers to the strange phenomenon of shared false memories. In new research that will be published in the journal Psychological Sciences, several experiments prove the existence of a "visual Mandela Effect" through icons like C-3PO or the Monopoly Man. When evaluating several of these iconic images, subjects were not only confident in their mistaken recall, but also consistently chose the same incorrect answers as others. As researchers Deeprasri Prasad and Wilma Bainbridge explain for The Conversation, their study shows that many false memories are not as subjective as we believe.

What can't the internet handle in 2022? Apostrophes. If your first name is Anne-Marie, or your last name is O'Brien, you may have seen your name fumbled and rejected in online forms. Despite the dizzying computational capabilities of today, simple database entry is regularly thwarted by a humble hyphen or apostrophe. Writing for the Wall Street Journal's "A-Hed," Katie Deighton explores the surprisingly common challenges that come with names containing accented letters or special characters and the efforts that companies are making to alleviate this technology obstacle.